Science and ethics.

A group of stem cells.

This week we have been working in Science and Ethics, specifically about "Stem Cells Ethics and Controversy".

There are fears that science is moving too fast without giving proper consideration to potential impacts and to ethical concerns.

In the case of stem cell's there are two key areas of debate:

1) The etchical/moral debate; refering to religious beliefs, wich say that 'messing up' with the human genome is simply not right.

2) Claims are reguarly reported by scientists with their findings published in reputable science journals. They repakages the findings for public consumption and dutifully supplies the splash headline: ' Brain stem cells to cure diabetes' . But the problem is that once you get to the small print you discover that all is not as it seems.

Also as the field of stem cell research is developing new questions and problems arise, with each new discovery another set of problems seems to arise. Like the case of adult stem cells, and another cases we don't know.

IB Learners profile.

In class, we discussed what where the 3 IB learner's profile qualities wich best represent the unit we are studying.
In the case of our class with Ms. Lydia, whe choose the following three: Reflective, principled and balanced.

Personally I don't agree with all of them, the one that says reflective should be replaced for open-minded, and balanced for caring. The one that fits better I think is the one that says "Principled". According to the definition that's in the wall of our class it's says that a principled person is the one who act with integrity,honesty, fairness, justice and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities. This one is very related to the Down Syndrome article("respect of the individual"). Open- minded: In the abort case it suits perfectly beacause an open minded person would be open to perspectives, and ready to listen any other comments and points of view about the abort.A Caring person would show empathy and respect for the opinion for the feelings of the parents, and doctors choices.